I am extremely apathetic about the whole Santa thing. As part of my general “don’t ask, don’t tell” Santa policy, we don’t really discuss gift origins. But then, Whatsit Jr. is only 5, and MiniWhatsit is 3, so they’re not really into asking who got which present or whatever. Look! There is a pile of presents for us sitting under the tree! [mass hysteria ensues]
Whatsit Jr. seems to think that Santa Claus is the one who deposited most of the presents under the tree, and I do not disabuse him of this notion. On the other hand, I don’t really encourage it, either.
In our family, we have the big Christmas celebration and open presents on Christmas Eve. Santa comes on Christmas morning (of course), and he fills the kids’ stockings with unwrapped, unexpensive small stuff, and brings each kid one gift – the biggest gift the kid will receive.
So yeah, the most expensive thing comes from Santa. Santa comes until the kid is about 12 or so (even though that’s a few years after the kid knows better), and then stops. No stockings or Santa gifts for the grownups; that’s sweet gesture IMO but in our family Santa is strictly for kids. My parents did offset the “no more Santa” with several “you’re a grown-up now” touches, like a very small glass of wine, a seat at the Big Table, and permission to stay up late. I assume the transition will be similar for my nieces and nephews, but they are all still on the Santa wagon for now.